Indians open second half with loss

Yaniel Cabezas led off the sixth inning with a home run Tuesday night, and the host Boise Hawks made the blast stand up during a 5-4 win over the Spokane Indians at Memorial Stadium.

Boise won the series 2-1 and started off the second half of the Northwest League season on a positive note. Boise, which owns two series wins at home against Spokane this season, captured its first series win in three weeks.

Brett Nicholas’ RBI single to center field in the first gave Spokane a short-lived lead. Rafael Lopez responded with a three-run homer to right in the bottom of the first off Indians starter Will Lamb.

Nicholas added an RBI fielder’s choice in the third, and tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Drew Robinson followed with an RBI double for a 4-3 Spokane lead. Lopez’s RBI single in the fifth tied the game. Cabezas’ winning homer came against Richard Alvarez (0-1).

Boise’s Dustin Fitzgerald struck out Nick Vickerson in the seventh with Indians at second and third. Vickerson also flew out with two aboard in the ninth.